The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-25
MORNING NEWS LIBRARY NO. IS
ROMANCE OF RICHMOND,
BY WALTER M. RICHMOND.
copyrighted, 1887, byJ. Fl. EstiU.
CHAPTER XX.-CoNrrNUEp.

AS he passed out of the gate he met the
party of youthful excursionists with whom
Milton had left the city early that morn
ing, and happy crowd of children they
were. There were about dozen in all-six
boys and the same number of girls Each
lad carried basket on his arm, and each
Iassie held bunch of ferns in her hand.
Milton and a raven haired girl of about
fifteen formed the last couple in the group.
All were chattering like black birds.
AS the gate closed behind Virgil, every
girl exclaimed in concert:
'Mr Paine"
"You are gentleman of your word,
aren't you, sir.n exclaimed one of the girls.
II thought you were coming out on the noon
train and brighten the afternoon with your
presence. On, Mr.. Paine, shall never have
any use for you again. Girls, let us switch
him with our ferns. But, pshaw! They
are so withered, he would not feel the
icks.'
''Such punishment would be too light
sid the brunette miss at Millions side
''We ought to tar and feather him."
How can you expect a man so dead in
love to keep his promise with any one save
the object of his alteration" broke in an
other girl-the largest of the party.
This speech caused a general laugh
throughout the crowd. A sad smile played
about our hero's lips as he replied:
1T would have afforded me great pleas
ure to have spent the afternoon with you,
young ladies, but was Unexpectedly sum-
moned this morning to Powhatan court
house"
Then the packet must have left you,"
said Milton.
Something happened to prevent my 60
ing there too" and, fearing his brother
might inquire into the nature of that
something he quickly asked: ''How did
you enjoy yourself Miltonl"
''Oh, we had a jolly time, didn't we,
Kate!" said the boy
perhaps you did, as you INDUCED to your
hearts delight in stealing kisses,n said a
foppishly -atJired youth of 10, who envious
of the favors Milton had received from the
girls, sought in this way to heap shame upon
the boy; but the youthful disciple Of Oscar
did not succeed.
''You needn't get so mad, Tom Adkins
because you got SO few kisses, !" said our little
friend, teasingly
mo, he needn't" echoed all the girls save
the one at Toms side.
At the second house on the next block
Milton parted from Kate, and farther down
the street he babe the rest of the party good
night, and, with his brother, turned toward
Main street.
AS they entered the building in which
their rooms were situated, they encountered
Mr. Warde AID DR.. Evans--VirgiI's second
and surgeon in the prospective duel-stand-
ing arm in arm in the doorway of the
formers Office.
Paine, you are the very person we want
TO see" said Warde. ''Step in my Office. if
you please"
1--WE wish to see your brother privately,
Milton" said DR.. Evans, patting the boy
upon the head. 'You had better run up
20 your room, my son."
Milton obeyed at once. Not for the world
would the proud-spirited lad have gone
where he was not wanted.
When Warde had closed the door of his
office, he slapped Virgil on the shoulder and
exclaimed:
"Why, old fellow, you look as if you
were going to be hangedl By lingo!
Don't look so blue, Paine! Discard at once
all Puritanical notions about dueling. Don't
let them for moment triumph over your
courage. Go upon the field of honor with
the full determination of tearing that pup
ply to pieces with bullets, and. I'll assure
you, you will have the pleasure before this
time tomorrow evening of having taken
his worthless life for the insulting language
he used to you Cheer up, Paine, old boy!"
Virgil" said DR.. Evans "This affair
L
Mrs. Woodburys tattling negroes have cir
culated it. / advise you to leave with us at
once. If we would avoid arrest we must
secrete ourselves until the express leaves the
city"
'.No, gentlemen, do not intend to hide
myself anywhere said Virgil. II am not
a murderer yet. l have but little more
than an hour and a half left, and that little
time | must spend with my brother. Imay
ho III lnI. nl1
deny one the pleasure of spending the
short time remaining with him who has for
twelve years been the sunshine of my life!
j am going to my room now. Good even
ing, gentlemen. for the present. / will join
you i'll time to catch the train"
Saying which, the speaker passed out of
the room. AS he assembled the stairs Mil
tons clear, boyish voice foated to his ears,
and the hymn the child sang was the
''Sweet, By and By" Virgil paused in the
passage above and waited there until the
last echo of the boys voice had died away.
In all his life the young lawyer had never
been more deeply moved Tears gushed
forth from his eyes and flowed unrestrain-
edly down his cheeks. At length, master
ing his emotion, he entered the room.
Milton had Invested himself of his jacket
and shoes, and was rocking to and fro, in a
cane-seat chair, and creating considerable
breeze with huge paim-leaf fan.
Old Jerry sat near watching the boy with
a smile of inexpressible tenderness on his
black face.
The table was set for tea but, as the two
brothers rarely ever took their meals alone,
the supper was as yet untouched.
Virgil, OH entering the room, motioned
Milton to sit down to tea. after which he
seated himself:
And you say you enjoyed yourself to-
day" said he young lawyer, abstractedly,
as he raised goblet of iced-tea to his lips.
"Oh, yes, had jolly time," replied the
boy. "But | am mighty tired now, and as
soon as get through eating my supper l
am going right to bed want you to wake
me at O'clock in the morning. You know
we are all going up on the mail. BY the by.
brother, did you know Miss Florine and her
mother were going to the White Sulphur on
the same train with uss Miss Paulie told
me so last night. Goodness, brother, how
pale you turned when | uttered Miss Flo
rine's namel You actually groaned. What
is the matterl Has she kicked youl / hope
she has-no, don't hope so either, because
could not bear to hear anybody say that
brother was kicked by any woman, much
less by that woman. But would like for
you and her to fall out in some way. | wish
to gracious you would kick heri Pshaw.
don't want any more support | am SO
sleepy can hardly keep my eyes open. l
am going right to bed. Good night,